KALAMAZOO, MI -- Rudyolphus Mendes gazed into Bronson Park through police tape hours after he was arrested for refusing to leave a sit-in protest.

While he leaned on stone landscaping outside Kalamazoo County 8th District Court, Mendes smoked a hand-rolled cigarette and talked with other members of the uprooted encampment. Protesters, some who left before police began making arrests Wednesday morning, are planning their next steps after being evicted from the park.

Deputy City Manager Jeff Chamberlain said 60 cubic yards of material, enough to fill six dump trucks, was removed from tents at Bronson Park and a Cedar Street property. This included donations of food and clothing from residents.

Mendes, 31, said he doesn't run from problems, he engages them. That's partially why he decided to let Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officers arrest him for violating a police perimeter. Mendes said the month-long occupation was a just cause.

"We're not trying to destroy this city or tear it up," Mendes said. "(City of Kalamazoo officials) are treating us with bias, prejudice and discrimination, but we are still standing here peacefully, trying to make something right."

Eight people who remained after a Tuesday night deadline set by the city were cited for violating city ordinances. The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety started removing protesters from Bronson Park just before 7 a.m. Wednesday.

Those in the park were given several warnings to leave the park or face arrest.

Chief Karianne Thomas said 10 people were arrested for violating a perimeter established by police and three others arrested on outstanding warrants. Commissioner Shannon Sykes Nehring was allowed inside the police perimeter, but later forced officers to arrest her after she blocked a police van on South Street with her body.

Protesters were also moved out of a second encampment outside a vacant city-owned building on Cedar Street. No arrests were made at that site.

Those arrested for the breaking the police barrier were booked and released on personal recognizance bonds around 9 a.m. Wednesday. A few of them later gathered for a group photo outside Bronson Park, pledging to continue their protest.

Almost all who were arrested have been released from custody. We were arrested defending our right to a peaceful...

Protesters were encouraged to take their belongings and leave the park before 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Chamberlain said.

Protesters were expecting police to arrive at Bronson Park Tuesday night. Several said they were surprised to find police approaching tents in the dark early Wednesday morning.

"They have no right to throw away donations," Kenneth Fuller said. "It was a sneak attack."

Fuller helped drag tents outside the park Wednesday. He was sleeping with his brother in the hospital before the Bronson Park protest and might go to the Gospel Mission, but isn't sure where he will stay now.

Paula Hill, a Portage activist, helped organize food donations and serve meals at the encampment. She helped run kitchens during protests at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota.

Hill brought her own grill and other cooking equipment, which was thrown away when city staff and Kalamazoo County Health Department employees cleaned the park.

Hill was in tears as she stood outside the police tape barrier around Bronson Park.

She was planning to bring the equipment to the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission site, but did not return to Bronson Park in time. Hill said she moved some items out of the park Tuesday night, but didn't expect police to clear out the area Wednesday morning.

"We can't even jump in a dumpster, because we don't know where it went," she said.

Kalamazoo County Health Officer Jim Rutherford said several totes of sealed food items were taken from the site. They can be claimed by Hill, he said, and anything left over will be donated.

"We don't want it to go to waste," Rutherford said. "The items that had to be pitched, unfortunately had to be pitched ... Residents were given notice that this was pending and had a certain amount of time to remove (their property)."

More than a hundred pounds of perishable foods that were improperly stored were disposed.